E-Mail 250-769-4999 Directory
Westbank First Nation has a unique opportunity to utilize approved INAC funding toward current and necessary building updates to the Sensisyusten House of Learning building, as well as an expansion and renovation. WFN’s contribution would be $1,459,207 out of a total $8,866,046 project cost. In accordance with section 82 of the WFN Constitution, for the project to move forward, Membership must approve of WFN’s financial contribution by way of a secret ballot vote of the Electors present at the Special Membership Meeting scheduled for March 15th, 2018.
Feedback collected from the community in 2016 and 2017, through workshops, open houses, and school board meetings, indicated support for the project and a desire to enhance education by increasing and maximizing classroom space. Without any updates, the school is still in need of $1.6 million of upkeep/maintenance in the next five years, as reported in a 2017 Existing Building Condition Assessment report. Items such as fire protection sprinklers, mechanical system, roof, and the building exterior are at the end of their life cycle.
The expansion and renovation would improve safety, enhance learning, increase capacity for teaching, language and culture, and decrease class sizes.
Engineering department Westbank First Nation T 250 769 4999 E-mail
February 22 Special Membership Meeting
March 8 General Membership Meeting
March 15 Membership vote
Presentation slides, Feb 22 Information package Survey #1 results Survey #2 results Solar presentation Proposed site plan
Under review
View site plan ?
View site perspective ?
Estimated timeline:
The expansion scope will be updated through the consultation process.
Yes. Priority two of WFN’s Strategic Plan is to support all Members through community services. Our youngest members are the future of WFN, and supporting them today will help them succeed in the future. Priority one is to encourage a rich and vibrant culture. At the heart of what it means to be a WFN Member is the history and culture of WFN as syilx people. WFN’s history and culture helps define its path into the future, including the type of community WFN desires to build and live in. Council is committed to supporting efforts to preserve and keep alive syilx heritage, language and customs.
The expansion also meets the School Board’s priority of building capacity for teaching, language and culture, and the identification of more space to teach those key aspects. This was also identified as the top priority of Membership, in a 2017 Member survey, when asked what additional school space should be used for. Furthermore, it meets the school’s goal of leveraging community resources and partnerships.
Other uses of the funds are limited to any community benefit that Council deems appropriate.
WFN’s funds will not need to be disbursed until the project nears completion in mid-2019, but the expenditure requires approval now to enable the project to continue.